Oracle
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Even Brahmos I can carry a nuclear warhead, but is not designed for such.
Hypersonic Missiles
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plugwater
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If the range of Brahmos is more than 300 km means we wont be needing a new long range supersonic cruise missile. So Brahmos II range will be lower than 300 km.
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Are their any news that the Scramjet engine will be an Indian design?
Galaxy
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Well, Even if Brahmos II will be 600-800 KM or more, Still we will need Nirbhay (Subsonic with range 1,000 KM) due to Cost. Both missile will be operational by 2015-2017. Hypersonic brahmos will be expensive compare with Subsonic Nirbhay. (No confirm news on Long Range Supersonic till date)
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Galaxy
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I am not sure about Scramjet engine (No such news) But Indigenous doesn't mean all will be produced in India. If we have Technology (Home made or by import), we can always enhance it's capability. For Example: Sukhoi 30MKI. We using various modern Avionic from Israel too.
plugwater
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There is a long range supersonic cruise missile under development. Just like Prahaar, they ll announce just before its first launch. Brahmos II range wont go more than 290km and Nirbhay is for the reasons you mentioned.
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Galaxy, MTCR bars such technologies to be transferred, even literally India cannot obtain the Ramjet technology of that is used in BrahMos I, same will be applied for BrahMos II, only way India can have a 300Km plus BrahMos II is an Indian design of the Scramjet engine.
LurkerBaba
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But unlike the Su-30, India has a 50.5% stake in Bhramos corp. We shouldn't be dependent on Russia again for the engines
debasree
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very eager to sea that arsenal in our hand ,seems that ground war will be stopped before it can start,deluge of these missiles backed by air strike paki armour and ground forces will hit the dust and in ruins ,the job left for our infantry only take care of pow .good going india and long live indo russian friend ship.
Galaxy
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Well, you have some valid points. But As per News, DRDO wants to double the range. Also, MTCR didn't consider hypersonic missiles as per original deal was signed. So, We can double the range and DRDO also said the same. Few things behind curtain too.
plugwater
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All missiles except surface to air missiles come under MTCR whatever the speed.
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It can be said that the BrahMos collaboration itself is a loophole of the MTCR, the benefit is India is getting first hand experience for designing her own super sonic LRCM, study of engine,seeker and cold launch technology, MTCR bars certain technologies to be transferred and restricts selling of missiles more the a specific range and payload capacity, but certain points like lease and collaboration in technology is not mentioned, so we are going to have the INS Chakra and Hypersonic technological collaboration, but regarding transfer of hypersonic missile and its technology, yes any platform or technology that violate MTCR guidelines is barred, so Brahmos II will fall under MTCR restriction.
LETHALFORCE
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The Hindu : Sci-Tech / Science : Shourya missile launch successful
Shourya missile launch successful
India's hypersonic missile, Shourya, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa, on Saturday, in its final configuration. The missile flew at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound and covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds.
This was the third successful launch of Shourya, a surface-to-surface missile and it paves the way for its production and induction into the Navy. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. Shourya is the land-variant of the K-15 underwater missile that is being fitted into India's nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant. So Shourya can be used by both the Navy and the Army. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
The missile rose from a canister fixed on the ground "on the dot" at 2.30 p.m., climbed to an altitude of 40 km and traversed 700 km at 7.5 times the speed of sound.
It performed a terminable manoeuvre and closed in on the pre-designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal with a high degree of accuracy. The missile was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said "the flight went off absolutely perfectly" and it met all the mission objectives. The radars located at the ITR, Chandipur and at Damra, also in Orissa, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile's entire flight. They reported on "the excellent performance" of the missile.
"It gave us full confidence for the production of this class of systems. The launch was to certify the production process and offer the missile for further production," he said.
Asked what was the altitude at which Shourya flew, Mr. Chander said it "was an entirely atmospheric flight" at a height of 40 km.
V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, called it "a good flight" and he was confident that the production of Shourya would go on as per plan because the missile this time was picked up from the production lot. "We achieved the full range for the ground launch configuration," he said.
The ASL had developed the rocket motors for the two-stage missile and built the canister from which it took off, Dr. Sekaran said. Both the stages use solid propellants. The missile is 10 metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes.
It was ejected from the canister fixed on the ground, by means of a gas generator developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune and the ASL, both DRDO laboratories.
Shourya missile launch successful
India's hypersonic missile, Shourya, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa, on Saturday, in its final configuration. The missile flew at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound and covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds.
This was the third successful launch of Shourya, a surface-to-surface missile and it paves the way for its production and induction into the Navy. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. Shourya is the land-variant of the K-15 underwater missile that is being fitted into India's nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant. So Shourya can be used by both the Navy and the Army. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
The missile rose from a canister fixed on the ground "on the dot" at 2.30 p.m., climbed to an altitude of 40 km and traversed 700 km at 7.5 times the speed of sound.
It performed a terminable manoeuvre and closed in on the pre-designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal with a high degree of accuracy. The missile was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said "the flight went off absolutely perfectly" and it met all the mission objectives. The radars located at the ITR, Chandipur and at Damra, also in Orissa, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile's entire flight. They reported on "the excellent performance" of the missile.
"It gave us full confidence for the production of this class of systems. The launch was to certify the production process and offer the missile for further production," he said.
Asked what was the altitude at which Shourya flew, Mr. Chander said it "was an entirely atmospheric flight" at a height of 40 km.
V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, called it "a good flight" and he was confident that the production of Shourya would go on as per plan because the missile this time was picked up from the production lot. "We achieved the full range for the ground launch configuration," he said.
The ASL had developed the rocket motors for the two-stage missile and built the canister from which it took off, Dr. Sekaran said. Both the stages use solid propellants. The missile is 10 metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes.
It was ejected from the canister fixed on the ground, by means of a gas generator developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune and the ASL, both DRDO laboratories.
LETHALFORCE
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India, Russia work on hypersonic stealth cruise missile - Home » Other Sections » Breaking News
India, Russia work on hypersonic stealth cruise missile
NEW DELHI (Xinhua) -- A number of Indian and Russian companies are working to develop a hypersonic version of BrahMos stealth cruise missile which can fly at almost seven times the speed of sound, a senior official said on Sunday.
"For this version, a new engine has to be developed, as also new materials to withstand high temperature and vibrations. They have got to be on board with supportive electronic systems," Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, the chief of BrahMos Aerospace, told the media in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
"Numerous industries in Russia and India are involved in design and development of components and sub systems," he said.
The Indian Institute of Science and Moscow Aviation Institute are also involved in research and development (R&D) of critical components for the hypersonic version of BrahMos hypersonic cruise missile, he added.
BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited is a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia. The missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
India, Russia work on hypersonic stealth cruise missile
NEW DELHI (Xinhua) -- A number of Indian and Russian companies are working to develop a hypersonic version of BrahMos stealth cruise missile which can fly at almost seven times the speed of sound, a senior official said on Sunday.
"For this version, a new engine has to be developed, as also new materials to withstand high temperature and vibrations. They have got to be on board with supportive electronic systems," Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, the chief of BrahMos Aerospace, told the media in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
"Numerous industries in Russia and India are involved in design and development of components and sub systems," he said.
The Indian Institute of Science and Moscow Aviation Institute are also involved in research and development (R&D) of critical components for the hypersonic version of BrahMos hypersonic cruise missile, he added.
BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited is a joint venture between India's Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia. The missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
LETHALFORCE
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The Hindu : Sci-Tech / Science : India successfully test-fires Shourya missile
India successfully test-fires Shourya missile
India's hypersonic missile, Shourya, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on the Orissa coast on Saturday.
The missile rose on the dot at 2.30 p.m. from a canister strapped on to the ground, climbed to an altitude of 40 km and sped at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound. It covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds. The surface-to-surface missile performed a manoeuvre in the closing stages of its flight and hit the impact point in the Bay of Bengal with an accuracy of a few metres. A gas generator located at the bottom of the canister pushed the missile out of the canister, then its first stage ignited and fell off, and the second stage went into action.
Shourya is the land-variant of India's K-15 missile which is launched under the water and is being fitted into the Navy's nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant.
This is the third flight of Shourya, all of which have been successful and this flight paves the way for its production and induction into the Services. It was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile can be used by both the Navy and the Army because it could perform various roles.
Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said, "the flight went off absolutely perfectly" and it met all the mission objectives. The missile was tested in its final configuration. The radars located at the ITR at Chandipur and at Damra on the Orissa coast, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile's entire flight. They reported on its "excellent performance."
Mr. Avinash Chander said it was "an entirely atmospheric flight" at a height of 40 km. Since this was the third successful flight in a row, "the development phase is over and we are going in for production of this missile."
DRDO officials estimate Shourya as "one of the top 10 missiles in the world' in its class with its high performance navigation and guidance systems, efficient propulsions systems, sophisticated control technologies and canisterised launch.
V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, called it "a good flight" and added that "we achieved the full range for the ground launch configuration." As per the mission requirements, the missile performed the terminal manoeuvres to achieve the impact point accuracy. The ASL had developed the rocket motors and the canister for the progamme. With the confidence provided by the third successful launch, its production would proceed as per plan, Dr. Sekaran added.
Research Centre at Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, was the lead designer of the state-of-the-art navigation, control and guidance systems, according to RCI associate director S.K. Chaudhuri.
The missile can be launched from silos and canisters mounted on a truck and fixed on the ground. It can be easily moved around. A truck itself can become the launching platform.
According to W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller (Life Sciences and International Relations), DRDO, Shourya had a big element of surprise because it could be kept in locations where the enemies would not be able to detect it. "Besides, it cannot be detected by satellite imaging. It will surprise our adversaries and strengthen our strategic defence," Dr. Selvamurthy asserted.
Shourya's Programme Director A.K. Chakrabarti, who led the launch activities for the mission, said, "Our [Armed] Forces will get a very good system" with the Shourya because "we have perfected it, made it valid and increased its reliability." Shourya's project director is A. Joseph.
The missile is ten metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes. Its two stages use solid propellants.
With Shourya ready for production and its under-water cousin, K-15, already under production, the DRDO's sights are set on K-4 missile, which will be launched from a submarine. After K-4 is launched under water, it will knife up to the surface and can target places 3,000 km away. "Various systems of K-4 are under development," a DRDO official said.
Keywords: Shourya missile launch, Integrated Test Range, DRDO, Advanced Systems Laboratory
India successfully test-fires Shourya missile
India's hypersonic missile, Shourya, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on the Orissa coast on Saturday.
The missile rose on the dot at 2.30 p.m. from a canister strapped on to the ground, climbed to an altitude of 40 km and sped at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound. It covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds. The surface-to-surface missile performed a manoeuvre in the closing stages of its flight and hit the impact point in the Bay of Bengal with an accuracy of a few metres. A gas generator located at the bottom of the canister pushed the missile out of the canister, then its first stage ignited and fell off, and the second stage went into action.
Shourya is the land-variant of India's K-15 missile which is launched under the water and is being fitted into the Navy's nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant.
This is the third flight of Shourya, all of which have been successful and this flight paves the way for its production and induction into the Services. It was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile can be used by both the Navy and the Army because it could perform various roles.
Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said, "the flight went off absolutely perfectly" and it met all the mission objectives. The missile was tested in its final configuration. The radars located at the ITR at Chandipur and at Damra on the Orissa coast, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile's entire flight. They reported on its "excellent performance."
Mr. Avinash Chander said it was "an entirely atmospheric flight" at a height of 40 km. Since this was the third successful flight in a row, "the development phase is over and we are going in for production of this missile."
DRDO officials estimate Shourya as "one of the top 10 missiles in the world' in its class with its high performance navigation and guidance systems, efficient propulsions systems, sophisticated control technologies and canisterised launch.
V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, called it "a good flight" and added that "we achieved the full range for the ground launch configuration." As per the mission requirements, the missile performed the terminal manoeuvres to achieve the impact point accuracy. The ASL had developed the rocket motors and the canister for the progamme. With the confidence provided by the third successful launch, its production would proceed as per plan, Dr. Sekaran added.
Research Centre at Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, was the lead designer of the state-of-the-art navigation, control and guidance systems, according to RCI associate director S.K. Chaudhuri.
The missile can be launched from silos and canisters mounted on a truck and fixed on the ground. It can be easily moved around. A truck itself can become the launching platform.
According to W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller (Life Sciences and International Relations), DRDO, Shourya had a big element of surprise because it could be kept in locations where the enemies would not be able to detect it. "Besides, it cannot be detected by satellite imaging. It will surprise our adversaries and strengthen our strategic defence," Dr. Selvamurthy asserted.
Shourya's Programme Director A.K. Chakrabarti, who led the launch activities for the mission, said, "Our [Armed] Forces will get a very good system" with the Shourya because "we have perfected it, made it valid and increased its reliability." Shourya's project director is A. Joseph.
The missile is ten metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes. Its two stages use solid propellants.
With Shourya ready for production and its under-water cousin, K-15, already under production, the DRDO's sights are set on K-4 missile, which will be launched from a submarine. After K-4 is launched under water, it will knife up to the surface and can target places 3,000 km away. "Various systems of K-4 are under development," a DRDO official said.
Keywords: Shourya missile launch, Integrated Test Range, DRDO, Advanced Systems Laboratory
LETHALFORCE
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US Army tests weapon 5 times faster than sound
US Army tests weapon 5 times faster than sound
Honolulu: The US Army conducted its first flight test of a new weapon capable of traveling five times the speed of sound.
The Army launched the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon from the military's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai at about 1:30 am on Sunday.
The weapon's "glide vehicle" reached Kwajalein Atoll some 3,700 kilometres away in less than half an hour, said Lt Col Melinda Morgan, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
Earlier this year, the Congressional Research Service said in a report the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon is part of the military's programme to develop "prompt global strike" weapons that would allow the US to strike targets anywhere in the world with conventional weapons in as little as an hour.
The Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, are developing a similar vehicle.
The Pentagon said the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, or AHW, vehicle is designed to fly long ranges within the earth's atmosphere at speeds that are at least five times the speed of sound.
The objective of yesterday's test was to collect data on technologies that boost the hypersonic vehicle and allow it to glide. The Army was also testing how the vehicle performed in long-range flight.
The Congressional Research Service report said the AHW would be able to manoeuvre to avoid flying over third party nations as it approached its target. The weapon would use a precision guidance system to home in on the target, it said.
Read more at: US Army tests weapon 5 times faster than sound
US Army tests weapon 5 times faster than sound
Honolulu: The US Army conducted its first flight test of a new weapon capable of traveling five times the speed of sound.
The Army launched the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon from the military's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai at about 1:30 am on Sunday.
The weapon's "glide vehicle" reached Kwajalein Atoll some 3,700 kilometres away in less than half an hour, said Lt Col Melinda Morgan, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
Earlier this year, the Congressional Research Service said in a report the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon is part of the military's programme to develop "prompt global strike" weapons that would allow the US to strike targets anywhere in the world with conventional weapons in as little as an hour.
The Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, are developing a similar vehicle.
The Pentagon said the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, or AHW, vehicle is designed to fly long ranges within the earth's atmosphere at speeds that are at least five times the speed of sound.
The objective of yesterday's test was to collect data on technologies that boost the hypersonic vehicle and allow it to glide. The Army was also testing how the vehicle performed in long-range flight.
The Congressional Research Service report said the AHW would be able to manoeuvre to avoid flying over third party nations as it approached its target. The weapon would use a precision guidance system to home in on the target, it said.
Read more at: US Army tests weapon 5 times faster than sound
LETHALFORCE
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That lost one I believe was MACH 11 and a recent one tested was MACH 20.
http://defenceforumindia.com/strategic-forces/155-hypersonic-vehicles-scramjets-11.html
LETHALFORCE
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Indo-Israel missile deal: All sides of the story - Indian Express
Indo-Israel missile deal: All sides of the story
"¢Why are the missiles needed?
DRDO-IAI joint venture will develop and equip Indian Air Force (IAF) with 18 combat management systems with 435 MRSAMs. Missiles will replace obsolete PECHORA missile systems. In December 2008, DRDO chief M Natarajan informed Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that the nation's air defence was under threat: IAF had reported that 17 out of 60 firing units of PECHORA had already been phased out.
"¢What do Left and BJP say?
The Left, traditionally opposed to defence ties with Tel Aviv, wants the deal scrapped because IAI is under CBI scrutiny in the Barak missile deal. It also wants the Government to explain why 6% of the contract sum is being paid as business expenses to IAI. The BJP says the deal reeks of middlemen, and will scrap it if it comes to power.
"¢What is the background of the deal?
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Ministry of Defence took the decision to develop MRSAM with Israeli collaboration on June 19, 2006. On January 4, 2007, the Defence Minister approved the Price Negotiation Committee headed by DRDO's VK Saraswat and IAI's Itzhak Nissan. On December 16, 2008, CCS cleared the deal. DRDO told CCS that MRSAM was the land derivative of an ongoing long-range surface-to-air missile project with Israel for the Navy. DRDO conceded that Akash, the indigenous missile system in development since 1984, had been a sub-optimal performer, following which it was decided that IAF would purchase only two squadrons, to be deployed in less-than-strategic airfields.
"¢What questions did Antony ask?
What DRDO did not explain was why it needed to develop a missile with a 70-km range with Israel when American (Standard Missile MK IV), French (Aster 15/30) and Russian (RIF) missile systems with longer ranges (up to 240 miles) and proven performance were already in service. A stickler for transparency, Antony asked DRDO to address the concerns expressed by opposition parties.
"¢India already possesses a more powerful missile in the same class: the advance air defence (AAD) missile, which is part of India's anti-ballistic missile shield.
DRDO: MRSAM is four times more manoeuvrable than AAD. AAD performs sub-optimally while engaging aircraft in tail-chase mode, reducing the air defence engagement envelope.
"¢The deal could mean the death of the Akash missile system.
DRDO: MRSAM can engage targets 70 km away; Akash has a range of just 25 km. Deputy Chief of Air Staff has stated that PECHORA is obsolete and IAF needs a replacement urgently.
"¢No open tendering process was followed.
DRDO: Decisions on acquiring weapons systems are made by DAC. IAF had, after evaluating the ongoing long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) project, concluded the missile met operational requirements for an MRSAM system as well. IAF proposed a joint development programme between DRDO and IAI to move quickly on an urgent need. DAC approved "make" decision and thus, no tenders were floated.
"¢Missile seeker technology has not been transferred.
DRDO: Significant share of work in seeker technology has been awarded to Indian industry. For more than 80% of missiles, seeker sub-assemblies will be manufactured, assembled, tested in India with complete production drawings and assembly/test procedures.
"¢Six per cent business charges are being paid.
DRDO: Business expenses are costs towards warranty, bank guarantees, financing, insurance, transportation etc. These are included in the cost of the product. The 6% figure was not mentioned in IAI quote and is not in the contract. It was mentioned only in the report of the price negotiation committee, which brought it down from 13%, to demonstrate its approach in arriving at the reasonability of the negotiated price.
"¢Bribes were paid as part of business expenses.
DRDO: Not true. IAI signed an integrity pact before price negotiations began. Final contract (article 30.1) is very stringent about integrity. Contract can be scrapped in case of an irregularity.
"¢Contract was not examined from the legal angle.
DRDO: CBI has filed FIRs in connection with deals for Barak and 200 missiles with IAI and Rafael of Israel, but is yet to submit charge-sheet. Additional Solicitor General had opined it would be appropriate to wait for the charge-sheet before deciding to bar the firms. The Law Ministry felt an embargo only on the basis of an FIR may not be justified, and asked The Defence Ministry to first assess urgency of the national security need. Central Vigilance Commission felt results from CBI's probe lent credibility to allegations of involvement of middlemen, but asked the Defence Ministry to make the final decision after consulting the Law Ministry.
The Law Minister said the decision should be made at the highest levels. The entire matter was referred to Air Headquarters, which, with concurrence of the Air Chief, reiterated the immediate need to induct LLQRM (low level radars from Rafael), MRSAM and additional Aerostat radars. It was only due to this urgency, strategic implications of delay, IAI's integrity commitment, and the ASG's view, that CCS cleared the MRSAM project.
Indo-Israel missile deal: All sides of the story
"¢Why are the missiles needed?
DRDO-IAI joint venture will develop and equip Indian Air Force (IAF) with 18 combat management systems with 435 MRSAMs. Missiles will replace obsolete PECHORA missile systems. In December 2008, DRDO chief M Natarajan informed Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that the nation's air defence was under threat: IAF had reported that 17 out of 60 firing units of PECHORA had already been phased out.
"¢What do Left and BJP say?
The Left, traditionally opposed to defence ties with Tel Aviv, wants the deal scrapped because IAI is under CBI scrutiny in the Barak missile deal. It also wants the Government to explain why 6% of the contract sum is being paid as business expenses to IAI. The BJP says the deal reeks of middlemen, and will scrap it if it comes to power.
"¢What is the background of the deal?
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Ministry of Defence took the decision to develop MRSAM with Israeli collaboration on June 19, 2006. On January 4, 2007, the Defence Minister approved the Price Negotiation Committee headed by DRDO's VK Saraswat and IAI's Itzhak Nissan. On December 16, 2008, CCS cleared the deal. DRDO told CCS that MRSAM was the land derivative of an ongoing long-range surface-to-air missile project with Israel for the Navy. DRDO conceded that Akash, the indigenous missile system in development since 1984, had been a sub-optimal performer, following which it was decided that IAF would purchase only two squadrons, to be deployed in less-than-strategic airfields.
"¢What questions did Antony ask?
What DRDO did not explain was why it needed to develop a missile with a 70-km range with Israel when American (Standard Missile MK IV), French (Aster 15/30) and Russian (RIF) missile systems with longer ranges (up to 240 miles) and proven performance were already in service. A stickler for transparency, Antony asked DRDO to address the concerns expressed by opposition parties.
"¢India already possesses a more powerful missile in the same class: the advance air defence (AAD) missile, which is part of India's anti-ballistic missile shield.
DRDO: MRSAM is four times more manoeuvrable than AAD. AAD performs sub-optimally while engaging aircraft in tail-chase mode, reducing the air defence engagement envelope.
"¢The deal could mean the death of the Akash missile system.
DRDO: MRSAM can engage targets 70 km away; Akash has a range of just 25 km. Deputy Chief of Air Staff has stated that PECHORA is obsolete and IAF needs a replacement urgently.
"¢No open tendering process was followed.
DRDO: Decisions on acquiring weapons systems are made by DAC. IAF had, after evaluating the ongoing long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) project, concluded the missile met operational requirements for an MRSAM system as well. IAF proposed a joint development programme between DRDO and IAI to move quickly on an urgent need. DAC approved "make" decision and thus, no tenders were floated.
"¢Missile seeker technology has not been transferred.
DRDO: Significant share of work in seeker technology has been awarded to Indian industry. For more than 80% of missiles, seeker sub-assemblies will be manufactured, assembled, tested in India with complete production drawings and assembly/test procedures.
"¢Six per cent business charges are being paid.
DRDO: Business expenses are costs towards warranty, bank guarantees, financing, insurance, transportation etc. These are included in the cost of the product. The 6% figure was not mentioned in IAI quote and is not in the contract. It was mentioned only in the report of the price negotiation committee, which brought it down from 13%, to demonstrate its approach in arriving at the reasonability of the negotiated price.
"¢Bribes were paid as part of business expenses.
DRDO: Not true. IAI signed an integrity pact before price negotiations began. Final contract (article 30.1) is very stringent about integrity. Contract can be scrapped in case of an irregularity.
"¢Contract was not examined from the legal angle.
DRDO: CBI has filed FIRs in connection with deals for Barak and 200 missiles with IAI and Rafael of Israel, but is yet to submit charge-sheet. Additional Solicitor General had opined it would be appropriate to wait for the charge-sheet before deciding to bar the firms. The Law Ministry felt an embargo only on the basis of an FIR may not be justified, and asked The Defence Ministry to first assess urgency of the national security need. Central Vigilance Commission felt results from CBI's probe lent credibility to allegations of involvement of middlemen, but asked the Defence Ministry to make the final decision after consulting the Law Ministry.
The Law Minister said the decision should be made at the highest levels. The entire matter was referred to Air Headquarters, which, with concurrence of the Air Chief, reiterated the immediate need to induct LLQRM (low level radars from Rafael), MRSAM and additional Aerostat radars. It was only due to this urgency, strategic implications of delay, IAI's integrity commitment, and the ASG's view, that CCS cleared the MRSAM project.
